Collapsible tube closure



" Nov. 14, 1939. T. F. THOMPSON CDLLAPSIBLE TUBE CLOSURE Filed Oct. 10, 1938 "muggy":

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ATTO R N EYS Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CLOSURE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to collapsible tube closures and has for an object to provide a simplified device for anchoring the closure to the tube neck so that it can swing laterally without sagging, when the plastic in the tube is being dispensed.

A further object is to provide an anchoring means for a collapsible tube closure which may be inexpensively manufactured, which will be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will not easily get out of order, which will be neat in appearance, and which can be attached to swivel on the tube neck so that the body of the tube remains unobstructed.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a collapsible tube and closure therefor equipped with an anchor constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tube taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the bracket member of the anchor on which the U-shaped closure attaching member is mounted to swivel.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the tube showing the groove at the bottom of the neck for mounting the bracket.

Figure 5 is a plan view taken on'the line 55 of Figure 1 showing the U-shaped member of the anchor in plan.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, l0 designates a collapsible tube and II the closure thereof, these parts being conventional. To secure the closure against becoming lost the present invention provides an anchor comprising an upstanding bracket arm I2 preferably formed of wire and bent to provide a ring [3 at the upper end, the lower end of the wire being bent laterally to provide a spacing arm M, the wire being then bent to provide an anchoring ring l5 and the extreme end of the wire being directed along the arm [4 to provide a securing arm I6 which terminates in a hook ll which is engaged around the spacing arm [4, as best shown in Figure 3.

The ring I5 is seated in a groove 3 formed at the base of the neck IQ of the tube III as best shown in Figure 4. To apply the ring it is simply necessary to unhook the hook I! from the spacing arm It, the resiliency of the wire material, from which the ring is formed, permitting the ring to be expanded through the groove whereupon the hook I! may be again engaged with the spacing arm It. A substantially U-spaced swivel member 20, preferably formed of a strip of brass or similar material, is provided with aligned superposed openings 2|, best shown in Figure 5, which loosely receive the upright arm l2 of the anchor. The uppermost leg of the swivel member is longer than the lowermost leg and is terminally secured to the center of the top of the closure ll through the medium of a rivet 22, best shown in Figure 2.

In operation, when the plastic content of the tube I0 is to be dispensed the closure ll may be unscrewed in the usual manner, the closure swivelling on the rivet while being unscrewed and the U-shaped swivel member 20 simultaneously being moved upward on the bracket arm l2 during unscrewing of the closure to its upper limit of movement against the stop ring I3. As soon as the closure is free of the neck I9 of the tube the swivel member 20 will swing easily and accurately to one side of the neck of the tube and suspend the closure laterally of the neck of the tube so that the contents may be dispensed without obstruction while at the same time the closure is held securely from becoming detached from the tube and being lost.

The rivet is secured tight enough to the closure to prevent access of air to the contents of the tube and thus the contents are prevented from deteriorating or hardening. It will be further pointed out that by virtue of the two aligned bearing openings in the U-shaped swivel member 20 there will be no tendency of the member to sag on the bracket arm [2 when the closure is removed from the tube and thus the long life of the device is promoted while at the same time jamming of the device with resultant improper operation is positively prevented.

From the above desoription it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

The combination with a collapsible tube having a threaded neck and a threaded closure on said neck, of an upright bracket arm formed of 10 member being longer than the lowermost leg,

and a pivot securing said uppermost leg to the center of the top of the closure, the lowermost leg of the swivel member being adapted to be supported upon said spacing arm and coact with the uppermost leg of the member in preventing sagging or tilting of the closure when the closure is unscrewed from the tube and rotated laterally about the bracket arm as an axis to open position.

THOMAS F. THOMPSON. 

